CRATE EXPECTATIONS: Nerd Block for October 2015

Today we’re looking at the October 2015 Nerd Block Classic mystery box. Each month from Nerd Block ($19.99 + shipping) you can expect:

4 to 6 collectibles per block

one exclusive T-shirt

a $60 value

Let’s see if it this month’s box measures up!

The Box

Here’s this month’s box, freshly delivered in all its UPS glory. It’s a rather pedestrian 11.5″x8.5″, and not over heavy or light. Nerd Block Classic didn’t have a theme for this month’s box, but they did promise items relating to Gremlins and Aliens, plus some vinyl figures. Let’s take a look!

The first item out of the box is this neat Gremlins themed t-shirt from Shirtpunch. By itself, I like this shirt, but then I realized, it’s glow in the dark! The glowing version is an evil gremlin with the caption “Feed after midnight.” Nice! I’m not sure if this is a Nerd Block exclusive, the tag doesn’t say. But the price of $20 is on the tag. Your typical Shirtpunch shirt sells for $10 on the site so it feels like there is some wonkiness with the pricing. Regardless, this is the best item in this box.

Verdict: Really like

Titans Aliens 2-Pack (MSRP $19.99)

This is a Nerd Block exclusive item from Titan Merchandise. It features 2 vinyl figures from the Titan line: Big Chap Xenomorph and Ripley. I like Aliens but I’m not really a fan of the Titan vinyl figures. I just don’t like the way they look, though the Xenomorph is pretty cool, which saves this set for me. This will go in my “other vinyls” collection.Verdict: Like

Zombie Hunter Dog Tags (MSRP: ??)

A set of zombie hunter dog tags to “help you recognize other members of the human resistance to the undead.” I’m not a fan zombies and I’m not a collector of dog tags. I don’t really care for this item.Verdict: Miss

Bob’s Burgers Mad Libs (MSRP: $3.99)

It’s exactly what you think, a Bob’s Burgers themed Mad Libs book. I like Mad Libs well enough (but not as much as when I was kid) but I really don’t care for Bob’s Burgers at all. My middle son likes Mad Libs so I may be able to pawn this off on him and he’ll get some enjoyment out of it.Verdict: Miss

Jem and the Holograms Outrageous Annual #1 (MSRP: $7.99)

This is a double-sized Jem and the Holograms comic from IDW that sports a Nerd Block exclusive variant cover. Now, I lived through the ’80s, in fact I was a teenager during the ’80s. I watched a lot of TV during the ’80s and yet I still managed to miss the animated show the comic is based on. As in, I had no idea it existed, let alone there was a live-action movie based on it. It’s basically a proto-Hannah Montana without the post-show descent into lunacy. I’m not the target demographic for this.Verdict: Big miss

Moe Coaster (MSRP: ??)

What can I say about this? It’s a Simpson’s themed coaster, featuring everybody’s favorite bartender, Moe. Even though I haven’t watched the show in years (a decade?!), I still like it and a coaster is a useful item for my desk. In fact, I’m using it right now to hold a frosty beverage.Verdict: Like

Final Thoughts

So, did this month’s box live up to the claims? It certainly had 4 – 6 collectibles (though “collectible” is probably stretching the definition) and it had a sweet t-shirt (exclusivity not proven). With the MSRPs I could find, the box is pushing $51. I suppose the other two items could total out to $9, so maybe it does. In any event, the real question is: Is it worth what I paid for it? I really like the Gremlins t-shirt, the vinyl figures are a hit and miss in one pack and the Moe’s coaster is at least useful. But everything else was a miss for me, and while those were the smaller items, I still felt underwhelmed by this month’s box. Since this makes two underwhelming Nerd Block Classics for me, I have put this subscription on hold. However, I have ordered Nerd Block’s new SciFi box which ships in a few days. Stay tuned for that.

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Tom King is a former Counterterrorism officer for the CIA who served in the Gulf. A husband and father, he’s also worked at Marvel and DC Comics, and lives in Washington D.C. His debut novel, a mix of graphic novel and literary prose, A Once Crowded Sky, is out from Touchstone. It’s the story of superheroes who’ve lost their Continue Reading →

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